Decoder devices, methods and computer programs

ABSTRACT

A decoder device receives data useable to generate data for representing a data signal at a first level of quality. The decoder device receives enhancement data useable to generate data for representing the data signal at a second, higher level of quality based on the data for representing the data signal at the first level of quality. The decoder device generates data for representing a target region of the data signal at a target level of quality using a selected portion of the received enhancement data. The selected portion is associated with the target region. The target level of quality is higher than the first level of quality. The decoder device generates data for representing a further region of the data signal at a level of quality that is lower than the target level of quality.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/GB2017/052142, filed Jul. 20, 2017, which claims priority to UKApplication No. 1612585.8, filed Jul. 20, 2016, under 35 U.S.C. §119(a). Each of the above-referenced patent applications is incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to decoder devices, methods and computerprograms.

Description of the Related Technology

In some situations, it is desired to display an image or video to aviewer at a high level of quality, for example at a high resolution.This may be desirable where the screen on which the image or video isbeing displayed is very close to the viewer. The viewer may otherwisenotice defects in a lower quality image or video. This in turn candetract from the viewer's enjoyment of and engagement with the image orvideo.

A viewer might not notice, or at least might not be particularlydistracted by, an area of relatively low quality within an image iftheir attention is focused on a region of relatively high quality withinthe image. Foveated imaging is a digital image processing technique inwhich the amount of detail varies across an image based on where in theimage the viewer is looking. The amount of detail is highest in the areaof the image the viewer is looking at.

Allowing a viewer to perceive an image or video in this way, when facedwith various constraints, presents problems and challenges.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda decoder device configured to: receive data useable to generate datafor representing a data signal at a first level of quality; receiveenhancement data useable to generate data for representing a data signalat a second level of quality based on the representation of the datasignal at the first level of quality, the second level of quality beinghigher than the first level of quality; generate data for representing atarget region of the data signal at a target level of quality using aselected portion of the received enhancement data, the selected portionof the received enhancement data being associated with the target regionof the data signal, the target level of quality being higher than thefirst level of quality; and generate data for representing a furtherregion of the data signal at a level of quality lower than the targetlevel of quality.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising, at a decoder device: receiving data useable togenerate data for representing a data signal at a first level ofquality; receiving enhancement data useable to generate data forrepresenting a data signal at a second level of quality based on therepresentation of the data signal at the first level of quality, thesecond level of quality being higher than the first level of quality;generating data for representing a target region of the data signal at atarget level of quality using a selected portion of the receivedenhancement data, the selected portion of the received enhancement databeing associated with the target region of the data signal, the targetlevel of quality being higher than the first level of quality; andgenerating data for representing a further region of the data signal ata level of quality lower than the target level of quality.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer program comprising instructions which, when executed, cause adecoder device to perform a method comprising: receiving data useable togenerate data for representing a data signal at a first level ofquality; receiving enhancement data useable to generate data forrepresenting a data signal at a second level of quality based on therepresentation of the data signal at the first level of quality, thesecond level of quality being higher than the first level of quality;generating data for representing a target region of the data signal at atarget level of quality using a selected portion of the receivedenhancement data, the selected portion of the received enhancement databeing associated with the target region of the data signal, the targetlevel of quality being higher than the first level of quality; andgenerating data for representing a further region of the data signal ata level of quality lower than the target level of quality.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments, given by way of example only,which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of a data signalprocessing system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a hierarchical datasignal processing arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of another example of a hierarchicaldata signal processing arrangement in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 shows schematically an example of an image in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows schematically another example of an image in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows schematically an example of data useable in a data signalprocessing system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 shows schematically another example of data useable in a datasignal processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows schematically another example of data useable in a datasignal processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 shows schematically another example of data useable in a datasignal processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 shows schematically an example of a plurality of images inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of an apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a data signalprocessing system 100. The data signal processing system 100 is used toprocess a data signal. A data signal is a signal that carries and/orrepresents data. For convenience and brevity, in the specific examplesdescribed in more detail below, the data signal is typically image dataand/or video data, it being understood that a data signal may be of adifferent type. For example, a data signal may be an audio signal. Anaudio signal carries audio data. The data signal may be an ultrasonicsignal associated with medical ultrasound equipment. Other examples ofdata signals include, but are not limited to, multi-view video signals(such as three-dimensional video), volumetric signals such as those usedin medical, scientific or holographic imaging, or other multidimensionalsignals.

The data signal processing system 100 includes a first apparatus 102 anda second apparatus 104. The first apparatus 102 and second apparatus 104may have a client-server relationship, with the first apparatus 102performing the functions of a server device and the second apparatus 104performing the functions of a client device. The data processing system100 may include at least one additional apparatus. The first apparatus102 and/or second apparatus 104 may comprise one or more components. Thecomponents may be implemented in hardware and/or software. The one ormore components may be co-located or may be located remotely from eachother in a distributed arrangement in the data signal processing system100.

In some examples, the second apparatus 104 comprises or is comprised invirtual reality equipment. Examples of virtual reality equipmentinclude, but are not limited to, virtual reality headsets and virtualreality goggles. Virtual reality is also known as augmented reality orimmersive multimedia. Virtual reality is a computer technology thatgenerates, augments or replicates an environment and simulates a user'sphysical presence in that environment.

In some examples, the second apparatus 104 comprises or is comprised inmedical imaging equipment. Medical imaging is used to generate visualrepresentations of all or part of a body, in order to facilitateclinical analysis and treatment, and can include generating images ofspecific organs or cells of the body. Examples of medical imagingequipment include, but are not limited to, ultrasound equipment,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, X-ray computed tomography(CT) equipment, positron emission tomography (PET) equipment andfunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (FNIR) equipment.

In some examples, the second apparatus 104 comprises or is comprised inmachine vision equipment. Machine vision equipment allows a machine toobtain visual information relating to the machine's surroundings. Anexample of machine vision equipment is a smart camera. Another exampleof machine vision equipment is a robotic equipment.

In some examples, the second apparatus 104 comprises or is comprised ina mobile communications device. A mobile communications device is adevice configured to be used for mobile communications, for exampleusing a cellular and/or a wireless network. Examples of mobilecommunications devices includes, but are not limited to, smartphones andtablet computing devices.

The first and/or second apparatus 102, 104 may be powered by an internalbattery. The internal battery may be a rechargeable battery. Batteryusage considerations may be relevant in such cases. Alternatively oradditionally, the first and/or second apparatus 102, 104 may be poweredby an external power source.

The first apparatus 102 is communicatively coupled to the secondapparatus 104 via one or more data communications networks 106. Examplesof the data communications network 106 include, but are not limited to,the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN).The first and/or second apparatus 102, 104 may have a wired and/orwireless connection to the data communications network 106.

The first apparatus 102 comprises an encoder device 108. The encoderdevice 108 is configured to encode a data signal, for example image dataand/or video data. The encoder device 108 may perform one or morefurther functions in addition to encoding a data signal. The encoderdevice 108 may be embodied in various different ways. For example, theencoder device 108 may be embodied in hardware and/or software.

The second apparatus 104 comprises a decoder device 110. The decoderdevice 110 is configured to decode a data signal, for example image dataand/or video data. The decoder device 110 may perform one or morefurther functions in addition to decoding a data signal. The decoderdevice 110 may be embodied in various different ways. For example, thedecoder device 110 may be embodied in hardware and/or software.

The encoder device 108 encodes a data signal and transmits the encodeddata signal to the decoder device 110 via the data communicationsnetwork 106. The decoder device 110 decodes the received, encoded datasignal and generates a decoded data signal. The decoder device 110 mayoutput the decoded data signal, or data derived using the decoded datasignal. For example, the decoder device 110 may output such data fordisplay on one or more display devices associated with the secondapparatus 104. The one or more display devices may form part of thesecond apparatus 104 or may be otherwise associated with the secondapparatus 104. Examples of display devices include, but are not limitedto, a head-mounted display (HMD), an optical head-mounted display(OHMD), smart glasses, a virtual retinal display (VRD), a mobile phoneor tablet display, a computer screen, a video monitor, an oscilloscopescreen, etc.

The decoder device 110 may output data that allows an image havingmultiple different levels of quality to be displayed to a viewer. Theimage may have one or more relatively high quality regions and one ormore relatively low quality regions. The image may have one or moreintermediate quality regions. The relatively high quality region maycorrespond to a region of the image the viewer is looking at or islikely to be looking at. The relatively low quality region may be aregion of the image the viewer is not looking at or is unlikely to belooking at.

There are various different ways to determine which region or regions ofan image a viewer is looking at or is likely to look at. For example,the viewer may indicate one or more regions of interest themselves,using a pointing device for instance. An eye tracker may be used todetermine one or more fixation points of the viewer. A fixation pointmay be determined based on the centre of the retina of the eye of theviewer. The first and/or second apparatus 102, 104 may be able todetermine a likely region of interest in the image. For example, thefirst and/or second apparatus 102, 104 may be able to predict a likelyregion of interest based on historic regions of interest and/orknowledge of the data signal.

In one possible arrangement of a data signal processing system, thedecoder device is configured to provide feedback to the encoder deviceon a region of interest in an image. For example, the region of interestin the image may correspond to the field of view of a viewer and/or oneor more fixation points of the viewer. The encoder device could thengenerate and transmit to the decoder device an encoded version of theimage with the region of interest at a relatively high level of qualityand other regions of the image at one or more lower levels of quality.The decoder device could decode the received encoded data and outputdecoded data so that such an image having the characteristics set by theencoder device can be displayed to the viewer. In this case, the size ofthe encoded data transmitted by the encoder device to the decoder devicecould be made smaller than the size of a corresponding version of theimage where all of the image is at the same, high level of quality. Thismeans that less data could be transmitted from the encoder device to thedecoder device over the data communication network.

Although reducing the amount of data transmitted over a datacommunication network may be desirable in some cases, the possiblearrangement described above involves the decoder device feeding backinformation on the region of interest to the encoder device to allow theencoder device to encode the various regions of the image at the desiredlevels of quality. This may involve establishing and maintaining adedicated feedback channel for example, and relies on data connectivitybetween the encoder device and the decoder device in order to function.In addition, feeding back data in this way may increase the amount oftime required to display an image as the decoder device provides thefeedback information to the encoder device, the encoder device encodesthe image based on the feedback, the encoder device transmits theencoded image to the decoder device and the decoder device decodes theimage for display to the viewer. Such a delay may be unacceptable orundesirable in some situations, for example where substantiallyreal-time image processing is desired. This may be relevant in virtualreality applications, where noticeable delays or lags may detract fromuser experience.

Further, in the possible arrangement described above, the decoder devicehas limited control over which regions of the image would be displayedat the different levels of quality. The encoder device would alreadyhave set the levels of quality of the various regions of the image basedon the feedback from the decoder device by the time the decoder devicereceives the encoded image, limiting the amount of control the encoderdevice has on how the image is displayed. This may impact the decoderdevice and/or the second apparatus, for example where the decoder deviceand/or the second apparatus has limited capacity, battery life,processing power etc.

In contrast, as described herein, the decoder device 110 is configuredto receive data useable to generate data for representing a data signal,for example an image data signal and/or video data signal, at a firstlevel of quality. Data for representing a data signal is data useable torepresent the data signal. The decoder device 110 is configured toreceive enhancement data useable to generate data for representing thedata signal at a second, higher level of quality based on therepresentation of the data signal at the first level of quality.

The decoder device 110 is configured to generate data for representing atarget region of the data signal at a target level of quality using aselected portion of the enhancement data. The target region of the datasignal may correspond to where the viewer is looking or is likely to belooking.

Only some, rather than all, of the enhancement data is selected. Theselected portion of the enhancement data is associated with the targetregion of the data signal. The decoder device 110 may select the portionof the enhancement data itself and/or may determine the selected portionof the enhancement data based on receiving data comprising anidentification of the selected portion of the enhancement data. The datacomprising the identification of the selected portion of the enhancementdata may be received from one or more further entities. The one or morefurther entities may comprise, for example, the encoder device 108. Thedecoder device 110 may determine the selected portion of the enhancementdata to be used based on the received data.

The target level of quality is higher than the first level of quality.The target level of quality may be the same as the second level ofquality. The target level of quality may instead be between the firstlevel of quality and the second level of quality.

The decoder device 110 may identify the target region of the data signalitself and/or may determine the target region of the data signal basedon receiving data comprising an identification of the target region. Thedata comprising the identification of the target region may be receivedfrom one or more further entities. The one or more further entities maycomprise, for example, the encoder device 108.

The decoder device 110 is configured to generate data for representing afurther region of the data signal at a level of quality lower than thetarget level of quality. Where the data signal is an image data signaland/or video data signal, the further region may correspond to a regionof the image and/or video the viewer is not looking at or is unlikely tolook at.

The level of quality associated with the further region may be the firstlevel of quality. Alternatively, the level of quality associated withthe further region may be between the first level of quality and thetarget level of quality.

In some examples, where the level of quality associated with the furtherregion is between the first level of quality and the target level ofquality, the decoder device 110 is configured to generate the data forrepresenting the further region using a selected further portion of theenhancement data. The decoder device 110 may select the further portionof the enhancement data itself and/or may determine the selected furtherportion of the enhancement data based on receiving data comprising anidentification of the selected further portion of the enhancement data.

As such, the decoder device 110 receives a fully encoded data signal,for example from the encoder device 108. The data signal is fullyencoded in that the decoder device 110 could use the fully encoded datasignal to generate a version of the data signal where all regions are atthe high level of quality. Instead, however, the decoder device 110decodes part of the fully encoded data signal at a first level ofquality and another part at a second, higher level of quality. In someexamples, the decoder device 110 generates data for representing theentire data signal at the first level of quality and data forrepresenting only a region of the data signal at the higher level ofquality. The decoder device 110 may use part of the data forrepresenting the entire data signal at the first level of quality togenerate the data for representing only the region of the data signal atthe higher level of quality.

These examples differ from the possible arrangement described above inwhich the encoder device does not provide a fully encoded image and/orvideo data signal, but selects which parts of the image and/or videostream are to be provided at the different quality levels based on thefeedback from the decoder device. In contrast, in the examples describedherein, the decoder device 110 has more control over which regions ofthe image and/or video are decoded at particular levels of quality. Thedecoder device 110 may be able to use feedback information based onwhere in the image and/or video the viewer is looking to determine thetarget region and further regions of the image instead of feeding suchinformation back to the encoder device 108 over the data communicationsnetwork 106. Such feedback information may comprise data identifying thetarget region and/or further region and/or may comprise data the decoderdevice 110 can use to determine the target region and/or further regionitself.

Further, the decoder device 110 can selectively optimise the resourcesto use for decoding. This may result in savings in battery usage. Inaddition, the decoder device 110 may not need to provide any feedback atall to the encoder device 108. Further still, it may not be necessary tomodify any functionality at the encoder device 108 if the encoder device108 is configured to transmit the fully encoded data signal.

A trade-off of the encoder device 108 transmitting the fully encodeddata signal is that more data may be transmitted between the encoderdevice 108 and the decoder device 110 via the data communicationsnetwork 106 than would be the case if the encoder device 108 selectivelyencoded the data signal at predetermined different levels of qualitybased on feedback from the decoder device 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown schematically an example of ahierarchical data signal processing arrangement 200.

The hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 200 representsmultiple different levels of quality. The levels of quality may relateto different levels of quality of data associated with the data signal.A factor that can be used to determine quality of image and/or videodata is resolution. A higher resolution corresponds to a higher level ofquality. The resolution may be spatial and/or temporal. Other factorsthat can be used to determine quality of image and/or video datainclude, but are not limited to, a level of quantization of the data, alevel of frequency filtering of the data, peak signal-to-noise ratio ofthe data, a structural similarity (SSIM) index, etc.

In this example, the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 200has three different layers (or ‘levels’), namely a first layer 202, asecond layer 204 and a third layer 206. The hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement could however have a different number of layers.The first layer 202 may be considered to be a base layer in that itrepresents a base level of quality and the second and third layers 204,206 may be considered to be enhancement layers in that they representenhancements in terms of quality over that associated with the baselayer. The first layer 202 corresponds to a first level of quality LOQ1.The second layer 204 corresponds to a second level of quality LOQ2. Thesecond level of quality LOQ2 is higher than the first level of qualityLOQ1. The third layer 206 corresponds to a third level of quality LOQ2.The third level of quality LOQ3 is higher than the second level ofquality LOQ2. The second level of quality LOQ2 is between (or‘intermediate’) the first level of quality LOQ1 and the third level ofquality LOQ3.

In some examples, the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement200 represents multiple different levels of quality of video data. Forexample, the first layer 202 may correspond to standard definition (SD)quality video, the second layer 204 may correspond to high definition(HD) quality video and the third layer 206 may correspond to ultra-highdefinition (UHD) video for example.

In this example, each of the layers 202, 204, 206 is associated withrespective enhancement data. Enhancement data may be used to generatedata, such as image and/or video data, at a level of quality associatedwith the respective layer as will be described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown schematically an example of ahierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300.

The hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3is similar to the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 200shown in FIG. 2 in that it includes three layers 302, 304, 306. In thisexample, each of the layers 302, 304, 306 includes a set of sub-layers(or ‘sub-levels’). In this specific example, each of the layers includesfour sub-layers.

The first layer 302 is associated with a first level of quality LOQ1.Each of the sub-layers of the first layer 302 is associated with arespective level of quality. A first sub-layer of the first layer 302 isassociated with level of quality LOQ1 ₁, a second sub-layer of the firstlayer 302 is associated with level of quality LOQ1 ₂, a third sub-layerof the first layer 302 is associated with level of quality LOQ1 ₃ and afourth sub-layer of the first layer 302 is associated with level ofquality LOQ1 ₄. Similarly, the second layer 304 is associated with asecond level of quality LOQ2, the third layer 306 is associated with athird level of quality LOQ3 and the sub-layers of the second and thirdlayers 304, 306 are associated with respective, increasing levels ofquality. The level of quality associated with layers and sub-layershigher in the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300 ishigher than the level of quality associated with layers and sub-layerslower in the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300. Assuch, the level of quality increases from the bottom to the top of thehierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300.

Some or all of the layers 302, 304, 306 could have a number ofsub-layers other than four. Some of all of the layers 302, 304, 306could have a different number of sub-layers than each other. Some of thelayers 302, 304, 306 may not have any sub-layers.

In this example, each of the sub-layers is associated with respectiveenhancement data. Enhancement data may be used to generate data, such asimage and/or video data, at a level of quality associated with therespective sub-layer, as will be described in more detail below.

The hierarchical data signal processing arrangement 300 thereforecomprises a first layer having a first set of sub-layers and a secondlayer having a second set of sub-layers. Each of the sub-layers isassociated with a respective level of quality and is associated withrespective enhancement data. Using a hierarchical data signal processingarrangement such as the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement300 may allow some devices to reconstruct at a specific layer, forexample LOQ3, but only using say the first two sub-layers, LOQ3 ₁ andLOQ3 ₂, of that layer. This may be for efficiency, battery saving orlimited capacity purposes. Using only some sub-layers may be consideredto be partial reconstruction. Other devices may use all four of thesub-layers in LOQ3, namely LOQ3 ₁, LOQ3 ₂, LOQ3 ₃ and LOQ3 ₄, andreconstruct the signal completely. Using all of the sub-layers may beconsidered to be full reconstruction. The reader is referred to UKpatent application no. GB1603727.7, which describes a hierarchicalarrangement in more detail. The entire contents of GB1603727.7 areincorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an example of an image 400. Theimage 400 may for example be obtained from video data. The image maydepict a scene. For example, the image may depict a music concert.

The image 400 includes a target region 402. The target region 402 is aregion of interest in relation to the image 400. The target region 402may correspond to a region of the image 400 the viewer is currentlylooking at and/or is likely to look at. The target region 402 is ofinterest in relation to the image 400 as the viewer is likely to beparticularly perceptive to the level of quality of the image in thetarget region 402. In the example of the image 400 depicting a musicconcert, the target region 402 may correspond to a region of the image400 including the singer. Although the target region 402 is depicted asbeing rectangular in FIG. 4 it could take a different form. For example,it could correspond to the outline of an item of interest in the image,for example the outline of the singer.

An image may include one or more target regions. For example, an imagemay include multiple target regions associated with respective differentviewers where multiple viewers are viewing the image at the same time.

The image 400 includes a further region 404. The further region 404 maycorrespond to a region of the image 400 the viewer is currently notlooking at and/or is unlikely to look at. The viewer is likely to beless perceptive to the level of quality of the image in the furtherregion 404. In the example of the image 400 depicting a music concert,the further region 404 may correspond to a region of the image 400including the audience. The further region 404 surrounds the targetregion 402. An image may include one or more such further regions 404.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an example of an image 500.

The image 500 includes a target region 502, a first further region 504and a second further region 506. In this example, the target region 502is associated with a high level of quality, the first further region 504is associated with a low level of quality and the second further region506 is associated with an intermediate level of quality. The secondfurther region 506 surrounds the target region 502. The first furtherregion 504 partly surrounds both the target region 502 and the secondfurther region 506.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown example data 600 associated with thedata signal processing system 100. In this example, the data 600 isobtained and/or generated by the encoder device 108. In this example,the data 600 is related to data for representing an image at differentlevels of quality.

The data 600 includes first data 602. In this example, the first data602 corresponds to data for representing the image at different levelsof quality, from a highest level of quality LOQ3 to a lowest level ofquality LOQ1. For convenience, example values have been included in thedata for representing the image at the different levels in FIG. 6, itbeing understood that other values could be used. The values in the datafor representing the image may for example correspond to pixel values.

In this example, the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in thefirst data 602 corresponds to an original version of the image. In otherwords, in this example, the data for representing the image at LOQ3 inthe first data 602 is the same as the original version of the image. Theresolution of the data for representing the image at LOQ3 is 4×4. Itwill be appreciated that, in reality, the resolution of the data forrepresenting the image may be much higher than 4×4. For example, theresolution may be tens, hundreds or thousands of image elements by tens,hundreds or thousands of image elements. The resolution may, forexample, be 1920×540.

The data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the first data 602 isdownsampled to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ2 inthe first data 602. The resolution of the data for representing theimage at LOQ2 in the first data 602 is 2×2. In this example, thedownsampling operation averages four neighbouring values in the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ3 in the first data 602 and rounds theaverage value to the nearest integer. For example, with reference toFIG. 6, the bottom-left values (namely 7, 3, 2, 2) in LOQ3 have beenaveraged to produce the bottom-left value in LOQ2 (i.e., 4), and thevalues in LOQ2 (i.e., 3, 2, 4, 1) have been averaged to produce thevalue in LOQ1 (i.e., 3). It will be appreciated that other techniquesmay be used for generating lower quality representations of an image,however. In particular, in some examples, the data for representing animage at a lower level of quality has the same resolution as the datafor representing the image at a higher level of quality. The differencein the level of quality may in such examples relate to an amount ofenhancement or correction applied to the data for representing theimage.

The data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the first data 602 isdownsampled to generate data for representing the image at LOQ1 in thefirst data 602. In this example, the downsampling operation averages thefour values in the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the firstdata 602 and rounds the average value to the nearest integer. Theresolution of the data for representing of the image at LOQ1 in thefirst data 602 is 1×1. Although, in this example, the resolution of thedata for representing the image at LOQ1 in the first data 602 is 1×1, inreality the downsampling operations may not reduce the resolution to1×1. For example, the resolution of the data for representing the imageat LOQ1 in the first data 602 may be tens, hundreds or thousands ofimage elements by tens, hundreds or thousands of image elements.

The data 600 also includes second data 604. In this example, the seconddata 604 corresponds to different representations of the image at levelsof quality LOQ1, LOQ2 and LOQ3, from a lowest level of quality LOQ1 to ahighest level of quality LOQ3.

In this example, the data for representing the image at LOQ1 in thesecond data 604 is the same as the data for representing the image atLOQ1 in the first data 602. In other examples, the data for representingthe image at LOQ1 in the second data 604 is different from the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ1 in the first data 602. The resolution ofthe data for representing the image at LOQ1 in the second data 604 is1×1.

The data for representing the image at LOQ1 in the second data 604 isupsampled to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in thesecond data 604. In this example, the upsampling operation comprises aNearest Neighbour operation, such as Nearest Neighbour Interpolation. Itwill be appreciated that other techniques may be used for generatinghigher quality representations of an image however. The resolution ofthe data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the second data 604 2×2.

The data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the second data 604 isupsampled to generate data for representing the image at LOQ3 in thesecond data 604. In this example, the upsampling operation comprises aNearest Neighbour operation, such as Nearest Neighbour Interpolation.The resolution of the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in thesecond data 604 is 3×4.

The upsampling and downsampling operations result in differences betweenthe values in the data for representing the image at a given level ofquality in the first data 602 and the second data 604. This is becausethe upsampling and downsampling operations are asymmetrical. Forexample, the top right value in the data for representing the image atLOQ2 in the first data 602 is “2” whereas it is “3” in the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ2 in the second data 604.

In this example, enhancement data 606 is generated by subtracting avalue in the data for representing the image at a given level of qualityin the second data 604 from a corresponding value in the data forrepresenting the image at the given level of quality in the first data602. For example, the top right value in the enhancement data 606 atLOQ2 is “−1”, is obtained by subtracting the top right value “3” in thedata for representing the image at LOQ2 in the second data 604 from thetop right value “2” in the data for representing the image at LOQ2 inthe first data 602. In other examples, the enhancement data 606 isgenerated based on another relationship between a value in the data forrepresenting the image at a given level of quality in the second data604 and a corresponding value in the data for representing the image atthe given level of quality in the first data 602.

In this example, the encoder device 108 transmits the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ1 in the second data 604 and all of theenhancement data 606 to the decoder device 110. The decoder device 110is then able to recover all of the representations of the image in thefirst data 602.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown example data 700 associated with thedata signal processing system 100. In this example, the data 700 isobtained by the decoder device 110. In this example, the data 700 is forrepresenting an image at different levels of quality.

The example data 700 includes second data 702, enhancement data 704 andfirst data 706. The second data 702 is the same as the second data 604described above with reference to FIG. 6. The enhancement data 704 isthe same as the enhancement data 606 described above with reference toFIG. 6. The first data 706 is the same as the first data 602 describedabove with reference to FIG. 6.

It can be seen from FIG. 7 that the first data 706 can be recoveredusing the data for representing the image at LOQ1 in the second data 702and the enhancement data 704 by reversing the operations performed bythe encoder device 108 described above with reference to FIG. 6. Inparticular, the decoder device 110 uses the data for representing theimage at LOQ1 in the second data 702 and the enhancement data 704 atLOQ1 to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ1 in thefirst data 706. The decoder device 110 then upsamples the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ1 in the first data 706 to generate datafor representing the image at LOQ2 in the second data 702 and uses theenhancement data 704 at LOQ2 along with the data for representing theimage at LOQ2 in the second data 702 to generate the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ3 in the first data 706. The decoder device110 then upsamples the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in thefirst data 706 to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ3in the second data 702 and uses the enhancement data 704 at LOQ3 alongwith the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the second data 702to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the firstdata 706. The data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the first data706 is the same as the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in thefirst data 602 described above with reference to FIG. 6.

As such, the encoder device 108 fully encodes the original image so thatthe decoder device 110 can recover the original image.

The decoder device 110 therefore receives data useable to generate datafor representing the image at a first level of quality, for example atLOQ1 or LOQ2. The decoder device 110 also receives enhancement datauseable to generate data for representing the image at a second level ofquality, for example LOQ2 or LOQ3, based on the data for representingthe image at the first level of quality, LOQ1 or LOQ2.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown example data 800 associated with thedata signal processing system 100. In this example, the data 800 isobtained by the decoder device 110. In this example, the data 800 isrelated to data for representing an image at different levels ofquality.

The example data 800 includes second data 802, enhancement data 804 andfirst data 806.

In this example, the decoder device 110 receives the same data asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 7 from the encoder device 108.However, the decoder device 110 only uses a portion of the enhancementdata 804 corresponding to a target region of the image. In this example,regions of interest in the data for representing the image correspondingto the target region, and the associated portions of the enhancementdata 804, are shown using a thickened boundary line.

In this example, the decoder device 110 uses the data for representingthe image at LOQ1 in the second data 802 and the enhancement data 804 atLOQ1 to generate the data for representing the image at LOQ1 in thefirst data 806. The decoder device 110 then upsamples the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ1 in the first data 806 to generate thedata for representing the image at LOQ2 in the second data 802. As onlyone portion of the enhancement data 804 at LOQ2 is associated with theregion of interest in the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in thesecond data 802, that portion of the enhancement data 804 at LOQ2 isselected and is used along with the data for representing the image atLOQ2 in the second data 802 to generate the data for representing theimage at LOQ2 in the first data 806. As the decoder device 110 used onlythe selected portion of the enhancement data 804 at LOQ2 to generate thedata for representing the image at LOQ2 in the first data 806, only oneelement in the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the seconddata 802 has been enhanced using the selected portion of the enhancementdata 804 at LOQ2. In particular, the value of the bottom right elementof the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the first data 806 hasa value of “0” whereas the enhanced (or ‘corrected’) value of thatelement is “1”. In this example, the decoder device 110 only upsamplesthe region of interest in the data for representing the image at LOQ2 inthe first data 806 to generate the data for representing the image atLOQ3 in the second data 802 at LOQ3. In this example, the decoder device110 does not upsample any regions of the data for representing the imageat LOQ2 in the first data 806 other than the region of interest. Inother examples, the decoder device 110 may upsample one or more regionsof the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in the first data 806other than the region of interest.

As only one portion of the enhancement data 804 at LOQ3 is associatedwith the region of interest in the data for representing the image atLOQ3 in the second data 802, that portion of the enhancement data 804 atLOQ3 is selected and is used along with the values in the region ofinterest in the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the seconddata 802 to generate the values in the region of interest in the datafor representing the image at LOQ3 in the first data 806. The values inthe region of interest in the data for representing the image at LOQ3 inthe first data 806 are the same as the values in the correspondingregion in the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the first data602 described above with reference to FIG. 6.

In this example, the region of interest in the data for representing theimage at LOQ3 in the first data 806 is the data for representing thetarget region of the image at a target level of quality. In thisexample, the region of the data for representing the image at LOQ2 inthe first data 806 other than the region of interest is data forrepresenting a further region of the image at a level of quality lowerthan the target level of quality.

The decoder device 110 therefore receives data useable to generate datafor representing a data signal at a first level of quality, for exampleat LOQ1. The decoder device 110 also receives enhancement data useableto generate data for representing the data signal at a second level ofquality, for example at LOQ3, based on the representation of the datasignal at the first level of quality, LOQ1. The decoder device 110generates data for representing a target region of the data signal at atarget level of quality, for example LOQ2 or LOQ3, using a selectedportion of the received enhancement data. The selection portion of thereceived enhancement data is associated with the target region of thedata signal. The decoder device 110 generates data for representing afurther region of the data signal at a level of quality lower than thetarget level of quality, for example at LOQ1 or LOQ2.

Since, in this example, the resolution of the data for representing theimage at LOQ3 is different from the resolution of the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ2, some or all of the data output by thedecoder device 110 may need to be upsampled and/or modified in anotherway for display to the viewer.

For ease of explanation, assuming the display resolution were 4×4, thegenerated values in the region of interest in the data for representingthe image at LOQ3 in the first data 806, comprising four values, may beused for display. Additionally, the region of the data for representingthe image at LOQ2 in the first data 806 other than the region ofinterest, comprising three values, may be upsampled to generate twelvevalues, thus resulting in sixteen values in total for display. Inreality, the display resolution is likely to be much higher than 4×4 andmay not have equal dimensions.

Assuming the display resolution were 8×8, the region of interest in thedata for representing the image at LOQ3 in the first data 806,comprising four values, may be upsampled once, generating sixteenvalues. The region of the data for representing the image at LOQ2 in thefirst data 806 other than the region of interest, comprising fourvalues, may be upsampled twice to generate 48 values, thus resulting in64 values in total for display. Again, in reality the display resolutionis likely to be much higher than 8×8 and may not have equal dimensions.

As indicated above, in reality, display resolutions may be much higherthan the 4×4 and 8×8 resolutions provided in the examples describedabove. For example, the display resolution may be 1920×540. Furthermore,although examples have been provided above in which the displayresolution has equal dimensions (for example 4×4 and 8×8), displayresolutions may have unequal dimensions and hence may be non-square, forexample for widescreen displays.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown example data 900 associated with thedata signal processing system 100. In this example, the data 900 isobtained by the decoder device 110. In this example, the data 900 isrelated to data for representing an image at different levels ofquality.

The example data 900 includes second data 902, enhancement data 904 andfirst data 906.

In this example, the decoder device 110 receives the same data asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 from the encoder device108. However, the decoder device 110 only uses a portion of theenhancement data 904 associated with a target region of the image.

In this specific example, the decoder device 110 does not use all of theenhancement data 904 at LOQ3 that could be used to enhance the region ofinterest in the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the seconddata 902. In this example, the portion of the enhancement data at LOQ3selected by the decoder device 110 is associated with a sub-level ofLOQ3, for example sub-level LOQ3 ₃. In particular, the decoder device110 has not selected enhancement data that could be used to enhance thevalue of “1” at the bottom left of the data for representing the imageat LOQ3 in the second data 902. This is the case even though suchenhancement data is available to the decoder device 110 and is within aportion of the enhancement data associated with the region of interestin the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the second data 902.The decoder device 110 may select which enhancement data associated withthe region of interest is to be used based on the value(s) of suchenhancement data. For example, enhancement data that has a value of orclose to zero may not be selected for use, as the contribution of suchenhancement data in changing the data for representing the image at LOQ3in the second data 902 may be less significant than enhancement datahaving values further from zero.

Although, in this example, the accuracy of the values in the region ofinterest in the data for representing the image at LOQ3 in the firstdata 906 is lower than that in the region of interest in the data forrepresenting the image at LOQ3 in the first data 806 shown in FIG. 8,the decoder device 110 has traded off such accuracy based on one or moreother considerations. For example, the decoder device 110 may havetraded off accuracy as a result of entering into a power-saving mode.

As such, a layer in the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement200, 300 may be subdivided into multiple sub-layers, with each sub-layercontaining data allowing an incremental number of data signal elementsto be enhanced or corrected using the enhancement data associated withthat sub-layer.

The decoder device 110 may be configured to use some or all of theenhancement data associated with the sub-layers to generate the data forrepresenting the target region at the target level of quality based onone or more operating modes of the decoder device. The decoder device110 and/or the second apparatus 104 may have several different operatingmodes. In some modes, for example a power-saving mode, only selectedlayers and/or sub-layers are decoded and used.

The decoder device 110 may be configured not to use a portion ofenhancement data associated with at least one sub-layer in a firstoperating mode of the decoder device 110. The first operating mode maybe a power-saving mode. For example, all sub-layers of lower levels ofquality and no sub-layers on higher levels of quality may be used. Othercombinations of uses of sub-layers from different levels could be used.

The decoder device 110 may be configured to use a portion of enhancementdata associated with all sub-layers in a second operating mode of thedecoder device 110. The decoder device 110 may be configured to use aportion of enhancement data associated with at least one sub-layer ofthe first and second layers in a third operating mode of the decoderdevice 110. For example, a single sub-layer may be used for each levelof quality.

In a specific example, if the first layer, which is associated with alower definition, has three sub-layers and the second layer, which isassociated with a higher definition, also has three sub-layers, thedecoder device 110 may choose to decode only the lowest sub-layer in thefirst and second layers in a power saving mode and to decode all threesub-layers of the first and second layers in a full power mode. Imageprocessing conducted in this way gives a lower quality of image than ifthe fully encoded image were fully decoded, but may represent a definedand acceptable trade-off, for example for power-saving gains.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown an example of a plurality of images1000. The plurality of images 1000 includes a first image 1002associated with a first time t₁ and a second image 1004 associated witha second time t₂. The first and second images 1002, 1004 may for examplebe comprised in a video sequence.

The first image 1002 has a first target region 1006 and the second image1004 has a second target region 1008. The position of the first targetregion 1006 in the first image 1002 is different from the position ofthe second target region 1008 in the second image 1004. The position ofthe target region is therefore dynamic and not static in this example.

In some examples, the position of the target region changes based onwhere in the image, or sequence of images, the viewer is looking. Forexample, the position of the target region may change based on the fieldof view of the viewer and/or one or more gaze locations of the viewer inthe image. The field of view of the viewer is the extent of an image orenvironment that is visible to the viewer at a given moment. The fieldof view may be a property of an external apparatus, for example avirtual reality head-mounted display (HMD), or of the human eyes. In theexample of the human eyes, the field of view may be defined as thenumber of degrees of visual angle during stable fixation of the eyes.Movement of the eyes does not change the field of view. In contrast, agaze or fixation location can depend on the movement of the viewer'seyes around an image. The gaze location is the location in the imagewhere the viewer is directing the centre of their gaze at a givenmoment. The gaze location is therefore located within the field of viewof the viewer. The gaze location may be based on the centre of theretina of the eye of the viewer. In addition to the gaze location, thefield of view also comprises a peripheral field that surrounds the gazelocation at a given moment.

The decoder device 110 may be configured to receive data associated witha field of view associated with a viewer and use the data associatedwith the field of view to identify the target region. The decoder device110 may be configured to select the target region so as to be in thefield of view. As such, the decoder device 110 can align the targetregion with where the viewer is looking or is likely to be looking toallow a high quality region of the image to be displayed to the viewerwhere they are looking. The decoder device 110 may be configured toselect at least part of the further region so as to be in the field ofview. Where the at least part of the further region is in the field ofview of the user, the decoder device 110 may generate data forrepresenting the at least part of the further region at a level ofquality intermediate the highest and lowest level of qualities as it isvisible to the viewer and having the lowest level of quality may detractfrom user experience. The decoder device 110 may be configured toreceive data associated with one or more gaze positions associated witha user and use the data associated with the one or more gaze positionsto identify the target region. The decoder device 110 may thereforealign the target region with where the user is looking and/or is likelyto be looking.

For applications in virtual reality for example, the target region 1006,1008 behaves like a sliding (or ‘moving’) window wherein the decoderdevice 110 decodes a higher quality image or video in a sliding windowmanner. The sliding window may contain the one or more gaze points ofthe viewer.

In this example, the images 1002, 1004 comprise a plurality of tiles.Enhancement data is associated with the tiles. The enhancement data maybe used to generate data for representing one or more regions of theimages 1002, 1004 at a relatively high level of quality. For example,the enhancement data may be used to generate data for representing thetarget regions 1006, 1008 at relatively high levels of quality comparedto the level of quality associated with the further regions associatedwith the tiles outside the target regions 1006, 1008. The target regions1006, 1008 may correspond to visible (or ‘viewable’) sections of theimages 1006, 1008. In the context of virtual reality for example, as theviewer moves, the target region moves in a moving (or ‘sliding’) windowmanner. In some examples, when the amount of movement or deviation inviewing by the viewer exceeds a threshold amount, one or more tiles areadded to and/or removed from the target region. Thus, when the viewermoves, the moving window moves tile by tile. Region 1010 in the firstimage 1002 corresponds to a group of tiles that are not in the targetregion 1006 of the first image 1002 but are in the target region 1008 ofthe second image 1004. The decoder device 110 may be able to predictwhich regions and corresponding tiles will be added to the target regionin a subsequent image and generate data for representing the regions ata desired level of quality once such a prediction has been made. Usingthis prediction approach may decrease the amount of time to generate thedata for representing the target region in the subsequent image. Thedecoder device 110 may not need to generate data for representing anyregion of overlap of the target region between subsequent images as datafor representing the region of overlap may already be available to thedecoder device 110 in respect of a previous image. Such overlapping datacould for example be cached for a given number of subsequent images andfetched from the cache if needed.

As such, even though high quality image or video data is available tothe decoder device 110 for the whole image or video, the decoder device110 only decodes the viewable section to a relatively high level ofquality, for example to the maximum level of quality, thereby savingpower and other resources at the decoder device 110 and/or the secondapparatus 104. With scalable video coding techniques similar to thosedescribed above, a high quality layer may be defined per tile and thedecoder device 110 fetches data relating to a base layer and to the highquality layer for tiles in focus, thereby saving bandwidth, power andprocessing capability compared to fetching and processing such data forall tiles in the image. The decoder device 110 may determine a positionof a target region in a subsequent image dependent on the field of viewand/or one or more gaze positions of the viewer at a point in timeassociated with the subsequent image.

Further, in the context of virtual reality applications of thetechnology described above, a viewer may be physically very close to thedisplay screen. It may therefore be desirable to have high resolutionimages or video, particularly where the display screen has a highdisplay resolution, so that the viewer does not notice defects in theimage or video that may be apparent at lower levels of quality orresolution. This may place restrictions on the hardware or software thatcan be used in such applications because of the hardware and/or softwareand/or other requirements to be able to handle data at such a highlevel. For example, it may be desired to send a UHD or 4K video streamto the decoder device 110 and/or second apparatus 104. The decoderdevice 110 and/or second apparatus 104 would need to be able to downloador stream that video and would need the capability to decode and displaythe video stream at 4K. There may be a limited demand for oravailability of such devices. In examples described above, the decoderdevice 110 may not need a 4K decoder to be able to handle such videodata. Instead, decoder device 110 can decode video data at a lower levelof quality, for example HD, and use upscaling and enhancement data togenerate a representation of the video at the 4K level of quality.Through the use of scalable encoding, this may also result in moreefficient bandwidth usage, since it is not required to send a 4K videostream across a network, even for a specific image tile or tiles. Insome examples, the decoder device 110 decodes a relatively low quality4K video stream and uses enhancement data to generate a relatively highquality 4K representation of the video stream. The relatively lowquality 4K stream and the relatively high quality 4K representation maybe associated with different sub-layers of a hierarchical dataprocessing arrangement, as described above.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a schematic block diagram of anexample of an apparatus 1100.

In an example, the apparatus 1100 comprises a decoder device.

Examples of apparatus 1100 include, but are not limited to, a mobilecomputer, a personal computer system, a wireless device, base station,phone device, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, netbook computer,mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation, networkcomputer, application server, storage device, a consumer electronicsdevice such as a camera, camcorder, mobile device, video game console,handheld video game device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem,router, etc., or in general any type of computing or electronic device.

In this example, the apparatus 1100 comprises one or more processors1101 configured to process information and/or instructions. The one ormore processors 1101 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU). Theone or more processors 1101 are coupled with a bus 1102. Operationsperformed by the one or more processors 1101 may be carried out byhardware and/or software. The one or more processors 1101 may comprisemultiple co-located processors or multiple disparately locatedprocessors.

In this example, the apparatus 1100 comprises computer-useable volatilememory 1103 configured to store information and/or instructions for theone or more processors 1101. The computer-useable volatile memory 1103is coupled with the bus 1102. The computer-useable volatile memory 1103may comprise random access memory (RAM).

In this example, the apparatus 1100 comprises computer-useablenon-volatile memory 1104 configured to store information and/orinstructions for the one or more processors 1101. The computer-useablenon-volatile memory 1104 is coupled with the bus 1102. Thecomputer-useable non-volatile memory 1104 may comprise read-only memory(ROM).

In this example, the apparatus 1100 comprises one or more data-storageunits 1105 configured to store information and/or instructions. The oneor more data-storage units 1105 are coupled with the bus 1102. The oneor more data-storage units 1105 may for example comprise a magnetic oroptical disk and disk drive or a solid-state drive (SSD).

In this example, the apparatus 1100 comprises one or more input/output(I/O) devices 1106 configured to communicate information to and/or fromthe one or more processors 1101. The one or more I/O devices 1106 arecoupled with the bus 1102. The one or more I/O devices 1106 may compriseat least one network interface. The at least one network interface mayenable the apparatus 1100 to communicate via one or more datacommunications networks. Examples of data communications networksinclude, but are not limited to, the Internet and a Local Area Network(LAN). The one or more I/O devices 1106 may enable a user to provideinput to the apparatus 1100 via one or more input devices (not shown).The one or more input devices may include for example a remote control,one or more physical buttons etc. The one or more I/O devices 1106 mayenable information to be provided to a user via one or more outputdevices (not shown). The one or more output devices may for exampleinclude a display screen.

Various other entities are depicted for the apparatus 1100. For example,when present, an operating system 1107, data signal processing module1108, one or more further modules 1109, and data 1110 are shown asresiding in one, or a combination, of the computer-usable volatilememory 1103, computer-usable non-volatile memory 1104 and the one ormore data-storage units 1105. The data signal processing module 1108 maybe implemented by way of computer program code stored in memorylocations within the computer-usable non-volatile memory 1104,computer-readable storage media within the one or more data-storageunits 1105 and/or other tangible computer-readable storage media.Examples of tangible computer-readable storage media include, but arenot limited to, an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or Blu-ray),flash memory card, floppy or hard disk or any other medium capable ofstoring computer-readable instructions such as firmware or microcode inat least one ROM or RAM or Programmable ROM (PROM) chips or as anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

The apparatus 1100 may therefore comprise a data signal processingmodule 1108 which can be executed by the one or more processors 1101.The data signal processing module 1108 can be configured to includeinstructions to implement at least some of the operations describedherein. During operation, the one or more processors 1101 launch, run,execute, interpret or otherwise perform the instructions in the signalprocessing module 1108.

Although at least some aspects of the examples described herein withreference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed inprocessing systems or processors, examples described herein also extendto computer programs, for example computer programs on or in a carrier,adapted for putting the examples into practice. The carrier may be anyentity or device capable of carrying the program.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus 1100 may comprise more, fewerand/or different components from those depicted in FIG. 11.

The apparatus 1100 may be located in a single location or may bedistributed in multiple locations. Such locations may be local orremote.

The techniques described herein may be implemented in software orhardware, or may be implemented using a combination of software andhardware. They may include configuring an apparatus to carry out and/orsupport any or all of techniques described herein.

Various measures (for example decoder devices, methods and computerprograms) are provided. Data useable to generate data for representing adata signal at a first level of quality is received. Enhancement datauseable to generate data for representing the data signal at a secondlevel of quality based on the data for representing the data signal atthe first level of quality is received. The second level of quality ishigher than the first level of quality. Data for representing a targetregion of the data signal at a target level of quality is generatedusing a selected portion of the received enhancement data. The selectedportion of the received enhancement data is associated with the targetregion of the data signal. The target level of quality is higher thanthe first level of quality. Data for representing a further region ofthe data signal at a level of quality lower than the target level ofquality is generated.

The target level of quality may be the second level of quality.

The target level of quality may be between the first level of qualityand the second level of quality.

The level of quality of the further region may be between the firstlevel of quality and the target level of quality.

The decoder device may be configured to generate the data forrepresenting the further region of the data signal using a selectedfurther portion of the enhancement data. The selected further portion ofthe enhancement data may be associated with the further region of thedata signal.

The level of quality of the further region may be the first level ofquality.

The further region may at least partly surround the target region.

Data associated with a field of view and/or data associated with one ormore gaze positions may be used to identify the target region of thedata signal.

The target region of the data signal may be selected so as to be in thefield of view.

At least part of the further region of the data signal may be selectedso as to be in the field of view.

The field of view and/or the one or more gaze positions may be monitoredat multiple points in time. A position of a target region in asubsequent data signal may be determined dependent on the field of viewand/or the one or more gaze positions at a point in time associated withthe subsequent data signal.

The target region of the data signal may be associated with one or moredata signal tiles and the further region of the data signal may beassociated with one or more data signal tiles. At least one of the datasignal tiles associated with the further region may be within the targetregion in the subsequent data signal.

Data for representing the target region of the data signal at the firstlevel of quality may be generated. The generated data for representingthe target region of the data signal at the first level of quality maybe used to generate the data for representing the target region of thedata signal at the target level of quality.

Operation may be in accordance with a hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement. The hierarchical data signal processingarrangement may comprise at least one layer having a set of sub-layers.Each sub-layer may be associated with a respective level of quality.

Enhancement data associated with at least one of the sub-layers may notbe used in a first operating mode of the decoder device.

Enhancement data associated with all of the sub-layers may be used togenerate the data for representing the target region of the data signalat a target level of quality in a second operating mode of the decoderdevice.

Operation may be in accordance with a hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement. The hierarchical data signal processingarrangement may comprise a first layer having a first set of sub-layersand a second layer having a set of sub-layers. Each sub-layer may beassociated with a respective level of quality.

Enhancement data associated with at least one sub-layer of the first andsecond layers may be used to generate the data for representing thetarget region of the data signal at the target level of quality in athird operating mode of the decoder device.

The first level of quality may correspond to a level of qualityassociated with the lowest sub-layer in the hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement.

The second level of quality may correspond to a level of qualityassociated with the highest sub-layer in the hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement.

The target level of quality may correspond to a level of qualityassociated with a sub-layer between the highest sub-layer and the lowestsub-layer in the hierarchical data signal processing arrangement.

The data signal may comprise image data.

The data signal may comprises video data.

The target region of the data signal may be identified.

The portion of the enhancement data associated with the target region ofthe data signal may be selected.

A decoder device may be comprised in virtual reality equipment, medicalimaging equipment, machine vision equipment and/or or a mobilecommunications device.

Virtual reality equipment may comprise the decoder device.

Medical imaging equipment may comprise the decoder device.

Machine vision equipment may comprise the decoder device.

A mobile communications device may comprise the decoder device.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples.Further embodiments are envisaged.

In some examples described above, the decoder device 110 receives thefully encoded data from the encoder device 108 via the datacommunications network 106. In further examples, the decoder device 110retrieves such data from local memory, for example non-volatile memory.In further examples, the decoder device 110 retrieves such data from aremovable storage medium, for example a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory(CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Blu-Ray etc.

In some examples described above, the data signal processing system 100processes image and/or video data. In further examples, the data signalprocessing system 110 processes other types of data signal, such asaudio and/or volumetric data. In such systems, it may be desired toenhance a level of quality of a target region of the data processed bythe system. In the case of audio data, a target region may comprise aparticular frequency and/or temporal range of the audio data. In thecase of volumetric data, such as “three-dimensional” medical imagingdata, a target region may be a region in the volumetric data whichcorresponds to a particular physical region of interest, for example anorgan, foetus or tumour.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any oneembodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other featuresdescribed, and may also be used in combination with one or more featuresof any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of theembodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not describedabove may also be employed without departing from the scope of theinvention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A decoder device configured to: receive datauseable to generate data for representing a data signal at a first levelof quality; receive enhancement data useable to generate data forrepresenting the data signal at a second level of quality based on thedata for representing the data signal at the first level of quality, thesecond level of quality being higher than the first level of quality;generate data for representing a target region of the data signal at atarget level of quality using a selected portion of the receivedenhancement data, the selected portion of the received enhancement databeing associated with the target region of the data signal, the targetlevel of quality being higher than the first level of quality; andgenerate data for representing a further region of the data signal at alevel of quality lower than the target level of quality.
 2. The decoderdevice of claim 1, wherein the target level of quality is the secondlevel of quality or is between the first level of quality and the secondlevel of quality.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The decoder device of claim 1,wherein the level of quality of the further region of the data signal isbetween the first level of quality and the target level of quality or isthe first level of quality.
 5. The decoder device of claim 1, thedecoder device being configured to generate the data for representingthe further region of the data signal using a selected further portionof the enhancement data, the selected further portion of the enhancementdata being associated with the further region of the data signal. 6.(canceled)
 7. The decoder device of claim 1, wherein the further regionof the data signal at least partly surrounds the target region of thedata signal.
 8. The decoder device of claim 1, the decoder device beingconfigured to use data associated with a field of view and/or dataassociated with one or more gaze positions to identify the target regionof the data signal,. wherein the decoder device is configured to selectthe target region of the data signal so as to be in the field of view,and/or wherein the decoder device is configured to select at least partof the further region of the data signal so as to be in the field ofview. 9-10. (canceled)
 11. The decoder device of claim 8, the decoderdevice being configured to: monitor the field of view and/or the one ormore gaze positions at multiple points in time; and determine a positionof a target region in a subsequent data signal dependent on the field ofview and/or the one or more gaze positions at a point in time associatedwith the subsequent data signal.
 12. The decoder device of claim 11,wherein the target region of the data signal is associated with one ormore data signal tiles and the further region of the data signal isassociated with one or more data signal tiles, wherein at least one ofthe data signal tiles associated with the further region of the datasignal is within the target region in the subsequent data signal. 13.The decoder device of claim 1, the decoder device being configured to:generate data for representing the target region of the data signal atthe first level of quality; and use the generated data for representingthe target region of the data signal at the first level of quality togenerate the data for representing the target region of the data signalat the target level of quality.
 14. The decoder device of claim 1, thedecoder device being configured to operate in accordance with ahierarchical data signal processing arrangement, the hierarchical datasignal processing arrangement comprising at least one layer having a setof sub-layers, each sub-layer being associated with a respective levelof quality.
 15. The decoder device of claim 14, the decoder device beingconfigured: not to use enhancement data associated with at least one ofthe sub-layers in a first operating mode of the decoder device; or touse enhancement data associated with all of the sub-layers to generatethe data for representing the target region of the data signal at atarget level of quality in a second operating mode of the decoderdevice.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The decoder device of claim 1, the decoderdevice being configured to operate in accordance with a hierarchicaldata signal processing arrangement, the hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement comprising a first layer having a first set ofsub-layers and a second layer having a set of sub-layers, each sub-layerbeing associated with a respective level of quality.
 18. The decoderdevice of claim 17, the decoder device being configured to useenhancement data associated with at least one sub-layer of the first andsecond layers to generate the data for representing the target region ofthe data signal at the target level of quality in a third operating modeof the decoder device.
 19. The decoder device of claim 14, wherein: thefirst level of quality corresponds to a level of quality associated withthe lowest sub-layer in the hierarchical data signal processingarrangement; and/or the second level of quality corresponds to a levelof quality associated with the highest sub-layer in the hierarchicaldata signal processing arrangement.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The decoderdevice of claim 14, wherein the target level of quality corresponds to alevel of quality associated with a sub-layer between the highestsub-layer and the lowest sub-layer in the hierarchical data signalprocessing arrangement.
 22. The decoder device of claim 1, wherein thedata signal comprises image data and/or video data.
 23. (canceled) 24.The decoder device of claim 1, the decoder device being configured to:identify the target region of the data signal; and/or select the portionof the enhancement data associated with the target region of the datasignal. 25-26. (canceled)
 27. Virtual reality equipment, medical imagingequipment, machine vision equipment, or a mobile communications devicecomprising the decoder device of claim
 1. 28-30. (canceled)
 31. A methodcomprising, at a decoder device: receiving data useable to generate datafor representing a data signal at a first level of quality; receivingenhancement data useable to generate data for representing the datasignal at a second level of quality based on data for representing thedata signal at the first level of quality, the second level of qualitybeing higher than the first level of quality; generating data forrepresenting a target region of the data signal at a target level ofquality using a selected portion of the received enhancement data, theselected portion of the received enhancement data being associated withthe target region of the data signal, the target level of quality beinghigher than the first level of quality; and generating data forrepresenting a further region of the data signal at a level of qualitylower than the target level of quality. 32-56. (canceled)
 57. Acomputer-readable medium comprising a computer program, the computerprogram comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a decoderdevice to perform a method, the method comprising, at the decoderdevice: receiving data useable to generate data for representing a datasignal at a first level of quality; receiving enhancement data useableto generate data for representing the data signal at a second level ofquality based on data for representing the data signal at the firstlevel of quality, the second level of quality being higher than thefirst level of quality; generating data for representing a target regionof the data signal at a target level of quality using a selected portionof the received enhancement data, the selected portion of the receivedenhancement data being associated with the target region of the datasignal, the target level of quality being higher than the first level ofquality; and generating data for representing a further region of thedata signal at a level of quality lower than the target level ofquality.